Maclay Finals

[MHM]

@soloudinhere

I think it doesn’t add much because they are afraid to criticize their friends. They know these people and have to go show against them the next day and know they’re going to watch the replay. Bad enough to have George “noping” about your ride but then your friend or someone you look up to? Ouch.

I think it’s helpful, because the kids know more about the current group of riders, and their horses. Like the comment about the horse of Samantha Cohen’s that TJ O’Mara won on a few years ago, for example. George and Anne know plenty about the riding end of it, but they are more likely to know the parents of the current riders, as George pointed out about Tanner Korotkin.

They probably don’t spend a huge amount of time at the equitation ring week after week throughout the year. But that way they’re just talking about what they see in front of them on that day, which is nice. And then last year’s winner can add a little extra flavor to it.

[longtimelurker]

@ReturnCall90

I actually laughed out loud when George said Annabel Revers had “enviable confirmation” :lol: I guess that’s his politically correct way of saying he likes them tall and skinny in the eq. ring

Ugh. I have a lot of respect for GHM as a horseman, but I am so over these comments of his (and the follow-up that he likes riders “twiggy”). He’s gotten a bit better about keeping the body-shaming (or the opposite - the veneration of the tall, lanky rider) to a minimum in clinics (as far as I can tell, at least) … wish he could have kept it to a minimum on the commentary too. Anyway, sorry for the diversion - just grinds my gears!

[rockonxox]

@longtimelurker

Ugh. I have a lot of respect for GHM as a horseman, but I am so over these comments of his (and the follow-up that he likes riders “twiggy”). He’s gotten a bit better about keeping the body-shaming (or the opposite - the veneration of the tall, lanky rider) to a minimum in clinics (as far as I can tell, at least) … wish he could have kept it to a minimum on the commentary too. Anyway, sorry for the diversion - just grinds my gears!

I was focusing in on the comments where he said you could be short and do just fine and complimented at least a couple shorter riders. I believe that was in the first 50 or so that I recall hearing those comments.

[dags]

@ammye

I wonder if people are confusing Annabel (who had a fine distance by the horse didn’t fully jump the jump) with Paige Matthies who completely pop chipped and took out the last jump. I had Annabel as definitely moving up given the issues in the top 10. Now… I had Coco Fath as part of those issues which 100% should have knocked her out of the ribbons. I don’t see how the judges could legitimately use her when she didn’t execute the course! In my mind that’s as bad as not trotting the trot jump.

Not I. Honestly thought she was going to leave a stride out coming off the line, then came to her senses but not in time to get her horse rocked back. That super depressing chip at the last fence was distinctly different… I cried for that one.

[longtimelurker]

@rockonxox

I was focusing in on the comments where he said you could be short and do just fine and complimented at least a couple shorter riders. I believe that was in the first 50 or so that I recall hearing those comments.

Yes, like I said - I do think he’s gotten BETTER about this stuff, which gives me hope. Just wish he could have gotten through the whole thing without saying which body type he likes best - especially with the many kids trying to watch and learn.

eta: I do have a lot of respect for George and realllly appreciate that he takes the time to do this commentary. I just grew up with a trainer who was one of his disciples - and who ground in that there was a “right” build for riding. After seeing the damage that did, I’m relieved that George now acknowledges that short-legged riders can do just fine but bristle at the expressed preference for the tall, leggy types.

[Plumcreek]

@longtimelurker

…likes riders “twiggy”). He’s gotten a bit better about keeping the body-shaming (or the opposite - the veneration of the tall, lanky rider) to a minimum in clinics (as far as I can tell, at least)

This is always sort of a mystery to me, since, as a very “Twiggy” kid rider, I had a hard time being strong enough in the saddle, and always envied the riders with some substance and muscle. Same for skiing years later.

( For the young readers, ‘Twiggy’ refers to a 1970"s very skinny fashion model, or also a 70’s West Coast H-J Trainer )

[kmwines]

He does always end up calling the shorter ones “workman like”. Personally I always think the tall skinny ones look silly with their super long stirrups and a ton of saddle flap and seat and then this long back warmblood extending a mile behind them. At least put them on something that isn’t as long and gangly as they are.

[ohnoO]

I took his initial comment to mean the short bodied, longer leg shape which isn’t anything you can “fix”–it would be like fixing the size of your feet!
I noticed that one of the boys was pretty long legged compared to his torso, which is pretty rare in males. Usually they are much longer in their torso which I can imagine it hard to balance.

[BigEqRls]

Anne is the Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Show Jumping Development program and has been a selector for the Olympic/WEG teams for the last cycle, so I would say she’s pretty relevant to this group of riders, particularly the U25 group who would like her to choose them for teams in the future. If a bio like this isn’t “relevant”, what is? https://www.annekursinski.com/bio.html

She and George have probably judged the equitation finals more than anyone else so again, probably pretty relevant. I thought their commentary was great – and they aren’t afraid to say what they actually think. Even Jimmy and Frank hold back when they commentate.

If you want the interesting/colorful commentary, you need to sit in hearing distance in the rider/trainer section.

[woodhillsmanhattan]

@541hunter

I responded a bit upthread but Sophie was fantastic for her first time in that kind of environment! A few inconsistent distances and she fell into some old habits with her position but she got around well. We’re all very proud of her and she’s really happy with her performance. We put a cell phone video of the round on the Facebook page we made for her, along with lots of posts about our experience! https://m.facebook.com/sblroad2maclay

Wonderful! Congrats to her from her COTH fan club

[ToTheNines]

George is a force to be listened to. I learned a lot from him watching the finals. Here are too big examples. I watched, and listened to a couple of things he said over and over.

“Loose to the 2d jump”. He instructed us when it was there and when it was not. If you did not learn something from that, too bad.

Also, “he/she is a sitter”, with on-the-spot instruction on when it was there and when it was not. Same thing, I hope people could see it.

I’ve had many fine trainers. The best help me see things, so I can turn that into feel.

I love that he showed me what “loose” and “too much sitting” should feel like. I will practice these for the rest of my riding years. I did today. Deep leg so I can have light seat, let the horse feel loose. My horse liked it. Thank you George.

[MHM]

@ToTheNines

George is a force to be listened to. I learned a lot from him watching the finals. Here are too big examples. I watched, and listened to a couple of things he said over and over.

“Loose to the 2d jump”. He instructed us when it was there and when it was not. If you did not learn something from that, too bad.

Also, “he/she is a sitter”, with on-the-spot instruction on when it was there and when it was not. Same thing, I hope people could see it.

I’ve had many fine trainers. The best help me see things, so I can turn that into feel.

I love that he showed me what “loose” and “too much sitting” should feel like. I will practice these for the rest of my riding years. I did today. Deep leg so I can have light seat, let the horse feel loose. My horse liked it. Thank you George.

On a related note, this article by Bernie popped up today. It’s not too often these days you have a reference to Gordon Wright two days in a row.

https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/training/center-aisle-30297

[ToTheNines]

Yes MHM. I had the same experience watching a Bernie Taurig clinic once, as listening to GHM yesterday.

Bernie talked a lot about a deep leg, and showed when it was there and when it wasn’t. I hear him in my head constantly.

Those great trainers have the eye to exactly see when it is and when it isn’t, and to show you, so you can translate to feel. Or if you are riding, to tell you exactly when it is or isn’t.

[lmlacross]

In his commentary, I thought I clearly understood George to dismiss the notion that some in horses use short stature as an excuse for not riding as well as others who seem more conformationally set up for the job of wrapping around a big-barreled horse, say. His sentiment was that training—and particularly a commitment to fitness— can make a top-flight rider out of anybody and any body. I do think he’s softened, and he voices a modern view about what makes a good rider quite different from the narrow praise of a physical type that you might have heard from him even fifteen years ago.

I find the idea that either George or Anne “isn’t relevant” or had nothing useful to offer downright laughable. I don’t need Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski prattling on up there, nor do I have any interest in People Magazine profiles of riders’ horsey and personal lives. Tell me about the ride in front of you: what is working, and what isn’t. I thought both were quite fair and even liberal with their praise when that praise was deserved.

[Jackjoe1]

What was Missy Clark referring to on Facebook about Friday morning being chaotic?

[MHM]

Here is the profile about the winning horse. I love that he looks a bit like a yak in the off season.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/behind-the-stall-door-with-san-remo-vdl

[MHM]

For the Sam Walker fans:

https://www.equestrian.ca/news/TJMCokTbgWT7xt65N/sam-walker-wins-2017-jc-medal-national

[inandout]

@longtimelurker

Ugh. I have a lot of respect for GHM as a horseman, but I am so over these comments of his (and the follow-up that he likes riders “twiggy”). He’s gotten a bit better about keeping the body-shaming (or the opposite - the veneration of the tall, lanky rider) to a minimum in clinics (as far as I can tell, at least) … wish he could have kept it to a minimum on the commentary too. Anyway, sorry for the diversion - just grinds my gears!

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I know he doesn’t mean it in a weird way! But something about a older man commenting on the body types of 15, 16 and 17 year old girls doesn’t sit right with me. Even if it’s as it relates to their riding. If they’re able to effectively communicate with their horse and stay out of the way, it shouldn’t be an issue that warrants commentary, at least IMO. There are a lot of impressionable young kids watching and listening, and with the prevalence of eating disorders in the eq ring, we need to be careful about the words we use.

[rockonxox]

Good article about Sam. Thank you for sharing!

[MHM]

@rockonxox

Good article about Sam. Thank you for sharing!

My pleasure. He’s impressed me. I think he has a bright future.

This piece gives a little more information about him. I’ve seen him live up to #3 with my own eyes, which is very refreshing these days.

http://nfstyle.com/rising-eq-star-sam-walker-on-lessons-learned-from-his-trainer-parents-north-run-stables/